I came across the following article...https://nhlentrydraft.com/news/under-the-radar-prospects-2024-draft/
HE comes from my neck of the woods...Tenacity, pain in the arse to play against, and lethal shot!
Kevin He – Niagara IceDogs – Player Profile
Posted on
April 22, 2024 by
Dominic Tiano
Kevin He of the Niagara IceDogs. Photo by OHL Images.
| HT | WT | DOB | POS | SH | OHL DRAFT | NHLCS | NAT |
| 6’ | 182 | Apr 30, 2006 | LW | L | 25th, 2022 | 78th N.A. | CAN |
| SEASON | LEAGUE | TEAM | GP | G | A | PTS |
| 2021-2022 | GTHL U16 | North York U16 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 25 |
| 2022-2023 | OHL | Niagara IceDogs | 66 | 21 | 13 | 34 |
| 2023-2024 | OHL | Niagara IceDogs | 64 | 31 | 22 | 53 |
Kevin He is the lone Niagara IceDogs player on NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings, but that doesn’t imply a talent deficiency on the team. The IceDogs have several promising young players, yet the constant roster turnover and turmoil in Niagara likely make it challenging for budding talent to gain stability and develop.
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Primarily a goal scorer, he boasts an excellent shot that allows him to beat goaltenders with precision and skill. However, questions remain about his decision-making in the offensive zone – does he lack hockey IQ, or is the dearth of talented teammates limiting his ability to find them with passes? At times he either skates into defensive coverage or struggles to distribute the puck effectively.
Despite his average frame that needs more filling out, his relentless energy, physical play, and ability to frustrate opponents will impress. He excels on the forecheck, accelerating to deliver hits. Willing to absorb contact, he sacrifices his body to make plays.
Ranking He is so challenging because it is hard to determine how much of his performance depends on his own abilities versus the conditions under which he competes.
KEVIN HE | LW | NIAGARA ICEDOGS (OHL)
FCHOCKEY MIDTERM RANK: NR
It was a tough situation this year for the Niagara IceDogs. The team aimed to be more competitive but as struggles continued many of the team’s depth and veteran players were traded off. Kevin He was a pillar of consistency for the organization however, exceeding the 30-goal mark (31) as a 17-year-old, building on a 21-goal season as a rookie last year. “I think if a player with He’s skillset was on a more stable team he would be talked about in a way different light,” FCHockey chief Ontario scout Austin Broad said. “He can score at will, has an elite shot and has the ability to beat anyone off the rush with his speed and acceleration. I think his draft stock would be immensely different if he had a better supporting staff around him.
“He was able to excel and score a bunch of goals, while carrying the load for a young Niagara team. To me, that speaks volumes about his potential and should be a positive for him going into the draft.”
He was slotted outside the top-100 in FCHockey’s Midterm ranking for the 2024 draft, but there is no denying the talent he possesses and could easily become another under the radar draft choice.
KASPER PIKKARAINEN | RW | TPS U20 (U20 SM-SARJA)
FCHOCKEY MIDTERM RANK: NR
Standing at 6-foot-3, it’s hard for Kasper Pikkarainen to truly go unnoticed. Being one of the bigger players on the ice, the young Finnish prospect is easy to spot. But bouncing between Liiga, the top Finnish circuit, and its U20 league has caused some disruptions to Pikkarainen’s season.
“He has shown his abilities and potential in the games he has played,” FCHockey regional scout Arttu Myllymaki said. “I’m particularly interested to see how he performs at the U18 World Championship.” The skill is undeniable, as Pikkarainen finished in the top-5 in scoring on the TPS U20 team at just the age of 17.
A strong U18 World’s could see Pikkarainen’s stock rise dramatically, especially given his talent and size combination are always coveted by NHL teams“His playmaking skills are among the best I’ve seen in this draft class,” Myllymaki said. “He’s capable of magical things with the puck. His vision allows him to see passing lanes nobody else does.”
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